title: Molecular weight distributions of asphaltenes and deasphaltened oils studied by laser desorption ionization and ion mobility mass spectrometry.
abstract: Laser desorption ionization (LDI) and ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) are applied to study molecular weight distribution and cross sections of petroleum asphaltene (ASPH) and deasphaltened oils (DAO). Ion mobility data confirmed the presence of gas-phase aggregation in LDI experiments. Most of the molecules with MW > 3000 g/mol in LDI result from gas-phase aggregation. Two-dimensional (2D) IM-MS trend lines are compared with model polymer systems to confirm the order of cross sections (polywax > polystyrene >> DAO > ASPH >> fullerenes), and these data illustrate that ASPH has a more condensed average structure than DAO.
authors.affiliation: Texas A & M University, P.O. Box 30012, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Kuangnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Russell